Transfer Credit Policy

Courses taken previously at another college in the U.S. are evaluated for transfer by the Registrar.

We will evaluate classes taken while a student is in high school based on a transcript from an accredited institution of higher education. Classes that do not count include high-school algebra or vocational and/or technical courses for which there is no clear Ursinus equivalent.

Requirements for the course to be considered for transfer include:

• The final grade earned was a C or better.

The Registrar determines which Ursinus course is comparable when awarding transfer credit. If credit is awarded for a course for which there is no comparable course at Ursinus, it is transferred as “free” credits (e.g., Sociology - 6 credits, free). Credit is transferred, not grades. Thus the grade received for a course taken elsewhere does not enter into computation of the student’s GPA.

Please note: If a student wants to take a course at another college or university in the U.S. and transfer credit to Ursinus after matriculating as an Ursinus student (e.g., summer after the first year), the course must be pre-approved for transfer by the Registrar.

Students who have obtained the IB may receive up to one year of college credit. The exact number of credits and the equivalents in the Ursinus curriculum are determined by the Registrar and the relevant departments. No credit is given for Subsidiary level exams. Scores of 5-7 are considered for credit in the Higher level exams.

Students may earn credit for college courses through the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, depending on the score earned. As you know, AP is a nationalized program with specially trained instructors, and a standardized curriculum and testing program. A student’s score on the standard test may be from 1 to 5, with a 5 being equivalent to an A. Individual departments specify the score that they will accept for AP credit and the course equivalent. (See chart in First Year Student Academic Guide)

Courses taken previously at another college in the U.S. are evaluated for transfer by the Ursinus College Registrar. Requirements for the course to be considered for transfer include: the class must be taught by a college professor; the final grade earned must be a C or better. In addition, to be considered for transfer, courses must be consonant with the rigor and content of courses offered at Ursinus.

Students who take coursework abroad can only receive consideration for transfer credit upon submission of a course-by-course transcript evaluation completed by WES. 

Please note: If a student wants to take a course at another college or university in the U.S. and transfer credit to Ursinus after matriculating as an Ursinus student (e.g., summer after the first year), the course must be pre-approved for transfer by the Registrar.

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, a student must complete a total of 128 semester hours. A minimum of 64 semester hours of that credit must be completed at Ursinus. This allows a maximum of 64 semester hours of credit in transfer.

Students who have fully completed a two-year associate’s degree at another accredited and approved college begin with junior standing. To graduate, the student needs to complete 64 additional credits at Ursinus and fulfill all core and major requirements.

Courses taken previously at another college in the U.S. are evaluated for transfer by the Registrar. Requirements for the course to be considered for transfer include: the class must be taught by a college professor; the final grade earned must be a C or better. In addition, to be considered for transfer, courses must be consonant with the rigor, content, and mode of instruction of courses offered at Ursinus.

Ursinus courses feature in-person interactions between students and between students and faculty that produce discussion that reinforces and intensifies the learning that takes place outside of the classroom. These interactions depend upon the reading of verbal and non-verbal cues and spontaneous responses that can only take place in face-to-face, in-person interactions. In addition, Ursinus courses typically include opportunities for critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, developing arguments through logic, evidence and reasoning, and teamwork, all of which are facilitated by a setting that supports interpersonal interaction and exchange. However, the College does recognize that experiencing a variety of teaching and learning formats can be a benefit to students. For that reason, for students already enrolled at Ursinus, it is the policy of the College to accept in transfer no more than two (2) courses totaling no more than eight (8) credit hours for courses that do not foreground such interactions, as in courses featuring only online or otherwise mediated instruction.

If a student wants to take a course at another college or university in the U.S. and transfer credit to Ursinus after matriculating as an Ursinus student (e.g., summer after the first year), the course must be pre-approved for transfer by the Registrar.

Students who take coursework abroad at any institution other than an Ursinus College partner (that is, one of the exchange universities or study abroad program organizations with which the College has a written agreement), can only receive consideration for transfer credit upon submission of a course-by-course transcript evaluation completed by WES. Students are advised to create an account with WES and submit all required documentation as soon as possible upon completing their coursework abroad, as this process can take time. The student will bear all responsibility and costs for the WES transcript evaluation.